Parcells Company manufactures backpacks. During 2010 Parcells issued bonds at 10% interest and used the cash proceeds to purchase treasury stock. The following financial information is available for Parcells Company for the years 2010 and 2009.

2010

2009

Sales

$ 9,000,000

$ 9,000,000

Net income

2,240,000

2,600,000

Interest expense

500,000

140,000

Tax expense

670,000

780,000

Dividends paid

890,000

1,026,000

Total assets (year end)

14,500,000

16,875,000

Average total assets

14,937,500

17,647,000

Total liabilities (year end)

6,000,000

3,000,000

Aver. total common stockholders’ equity

9,400,000

14,100,000

Instructions

(a) Use the information above to calculate the following ratios for both years: (i) return on assets ratio, (ii) return on common stockholders’ equity ratio, (iii) payout ratio,

(iv) debt to total assets ratio, (v) times interest earned ratio.

(b) Referring to your findings in part (a), discuss the changes in the company’s profitability from 2009 to 2010.

(c) Referring to your findings in part (a), discuss the changes in the company’s solvency from 2009 to 2010.

(d) Based on your findings in (b), was the decision to issue debt to purchase common stock a wise one?